Design of Concrete Structures

ENCR4203: RC Design [II]

Design of Foundations
❑ Lecture Contents:

(1) Objectives.
(2) Introduction.

(3) Types of Foundations.

(4) Design Considerations.

(5) Examples.

9.1: Objectives
• General Objective: To establish the basic principles underlying the design of
isolated spread foundations.

• Specific Objectives:

At the end of this unit you will be able to:-

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❑ Foundations

• Calculate the area of base required in the design of foundations.

• Determine whether punching shears is a criterion.
• Check sections for bending and local bond stresses.
• Check for transverse shears.
• Check for cracks.
• Calculate the area of starter bar required.
• Sketch the reinforcements.

9.2: Introduction
• The foundation, being an important interface between the superstructure and
the soil, has to safely transfer the large loads and moments coming from the
superstructure to the soil at site.
• Foundation design is one of the required parameters in designing a structure.
Part of the foundation design is the design of footings. Footings and other
foundation units transfer the loads from the structure to the soil or rock
supporting the structure [Function].

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❑ Foundations

• To avoid the failure of the foundation, a suitable size and thickness should be used
to ensure that the stress encountered does not exceed the permissible stress. Failure
of the foundation can cause a severe effect on the structure as a whole. Failure of
the foundation may also cause instability to the whole structure or it even collapse.

• In the design of foundation, the soil characteristics are important as it may vary.
For example from soft clay to solid rocks. There is always an element of the
unknown in work below ground. Therefore, it is imperative to carry site
investigation prior to erecting the foundation so that the safe bearing capacity of the
soil can be determined.

• Footings can be classified according to their function or shape.

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9.3: Types of Foundations

Foundations
Types

Shallow Deep
Foundations Foundations

Spread Mat Driven Drilled Auger Cast

Footings Foundations Piles Shafts Piles

Fig. (1): Foundations Types.

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❑ Foundations

o A shallow foundation may be defined as one in which the foundation depth (D) is less
than or on the order of its least width (B) [D/B ≤ 1.0] , as illustrated in Figure (2).
Commonly used types of shallow foundations include spread footings, strap footings,
combined footings, and mat or raft footings; as shown in Figure (3).
o Shallow foundations or footings provide their support entirely from their bases,
whereas deep foundations derive the capacity from two parts, skin friction and base
support, or one of these two.

Fig. (2): Sketch for shallow footings.

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❑ Foundations

o Poor soils at the ground surface may force engineers to carry their structural loads
to deeper strata, where the soil and rock strengths are capable of carrying the new
loads. These structural elements are called “deep foundations”.
N N1 N2

B Fig. (3): Types of Spread

footings.
L

(a) Isolated footing. (b) Combined footing. (c) Continuous or Strip.

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❑ Foundations
Summary of Shallow Foundations
Foundation type Use Applicable soil conditions
Spread footing, Individual columns, walls. Any conditions where bearing
wall footings capacity is adequate for applied
load. May use on single stratum,
firm layer over soft layer or soft
layer over firm layer. Check
settlement from any source.

Combined footings Two to four columns on Same as for spread footing above.
footing.

Raft foundations Several rows of parallel Soil bearing capacity is generally

columns; heavy column loads; less than for spread footings. Check
used to reduced differential settlement from any source.
settlements.

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❑ Foundations

o The purpose of a deep foundation is to transmit the structural loads to a stratum that
is capable of providing both bearing capacity and acceptable settlements. The deep
foundation must be also capable of resisting vertical compressive, lateral and uplift
loads.

9.4: Design Considerations

o In general, any foundation design must meet three essential requirements:
(1) Providing adequate safety against structural failure of the foundation;
(2) Offering adequate bearing capacity of soil beneath the foundation with a
specified safety against ultimate failure; and
(3) Achieving acceptable total or differential settlements under working loads.
o There are many aspects to be considered for a proper design of foundations, besides
the specific requirements of the particular type of foundation being designed. These
are broadly classified as follows:
1- Requirements of the project and choice of superstructures.
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❑ Foundations
2- Loads and moments coming from the superstructures.
3- Selection of suitable site.
4- Soil properties at the chosen site.
5- Bearing capacity, settlement and compressibility, stress distribution and lateral pressure
where necessary.
6- Choice of the foundations based on items 2, 4, and 5, as follows:
(a) Shallow foundations; spread footings, combined footings, strip footings, mat/raft
foundations.
(b) Deep foundations; piles and pile groups, piers (including large diameter piers), well
foundations, that is, caissons, pile – raft systems and others.
(c) Foundations subjected to vibratory/dynamic loads. In addition to the normal requirement
for static loads, additional criteria regarding resonance, dynamic amplitudes, additional
pressures/loads at interfaces, natural frequency, noise due to vibration and so on, have to be
considered for these foundations.
7- Geotechnical aspects for the design of the selected type of foundations, that is, guided by
items 2, 4, 5, 6 as per codes and practices.
8- Structural design of the foundation based on items 6 and 7 as per standard codes and
practices.
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❑ Foundations
9- Criteria for assessment as per codes, practices and assessment of the structure
designed with respect to criteria based on item 8.

10- Acceptability of the design if the foundation designed satisfies the criteria specified
based on item 8.

11- If the foundation does not satisfy the specified criteria, it has to be redesigned or the
soil properties have to be improved to meet the requirements until the soil and
foundation requirements are acceptable with specified factors of safety.

➢ The size of a foundation bearing directly on the ground depends on the safe bearing
pressure of the soil, which is taken to mean the bearing pressure that can be
imposed without causing excessive settlement. Values for various soil types and
conditions are given in BS8004: Code of practice for foundations.

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❑ Foundations

➢ The design of foundation or bases is covered in section 3.11, BS 8110. The pressure
of the supporting soil is assumed to be uniformly distributed throughout the area of
the base (Clause 3.11.2.1). This assumption is based on the fact that soil act as an
elastic material and that the base possesses a significant degree of stiffness. When
there is moment, the distribution of the underside of the foundation will be variable
in a straight line; as shown in Figure (4).
N N

(a) Uniform soil pressure. (b) Soil pressure varies in

a straight line.
Fig. (4): Assumed Reaction Pressure on Rigid Footing.
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❑ Foundations
o Since concrete foundation is exposed to a severe environment, a higher grade of
concrete is used. A greater nominal cover should also be provided. With reference
to Table 3.2 and Table 3.4, of BS 8110, the lowest grade of concrete to be used is
C35 and the corresponding nominal cover is not less than 40 mm as stated in
3.3.1.4.
o A thickness nominal cover to reinforcement than those given in Table 3.4, BS 8110
is provided when fresh concrete is poured onto an uneven surface. This is to ensure
that minimum thickness is provided.

o If fresh concrete is poured directly onto the ground, it is recommended that a

nominal cover of less than 75 mm is provided. A nominal cover of less than 40 mm
is not recommended even though concrete blinding is provided. Concrete blinding
is used to protect the soil after excavation and to provide an even surface for the
foundation. In order to protect steel and concrete from the soil during construction a
blinding layer of concrete, 50 to 100 mm thick is usually laid at the bottom of the
excavation.

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❑ Foundations
9.5: Design of Pad footings
o Pad or isolated foundation is simple and most commonly used in framed buildings.
This is a square or rectangular slab of concrete carrying a single column.
Reinforcement is placed at the bottom in both directions to resist the bending
stresses set up by the double-cantilever action of the slab on the column base. Shear
reinforcement is normally not provided. The thickness of the slab may be reduced
towards the edges to economize concrete either by stepping or tapering the top face,
as shown in Figure (5). Figure (6) below shows a typical pad foundation.

(a) Spread. (c) Nerved.

(b) Stepped.

Fig. (5): Pad Footing Types.

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❑ Foundations

Gk + Qk Column
reinforcement

β
Slab
(a) Mass concrete Foundation. (b) Reinforced concrete Foundation. reinforcement

➢ The effect of the Footing’s Size.

o Flexible footing; When β < 45ْ Ly

o Rigid footing; When 45ْ < β < 60ْ

o Massive footing; When β > 60ْ
Lx

Fig. (6): Cross-section of a Typical Pad Foundation.

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❑ Foundations
❖ Service Load:
o The bearing capacity for a soil in the design of pad foundation is in terms of service
units, while the loads are in ultimate units. The sizing of the foundation is based on
service loads and the design of section (ultimate load).

➢ Example (1): [Axially loaded pad bases]

A reinforced concrete column of 400mm × 400mm in section and supports
an ultimate load of 2,200 kN. Of this total load 1,400 kN is dead load and
800 kN is imposed load. The maximum permissible increase of ground
pressure against service loads is 150 kN/m2 with fcu = 40N/mm2 and fy =
460 N/mm2. Design an isolated square foundation to meet the design
criteria given.
Solution

o Service Load:

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❑ Foundations
• Dead Load = 1,400/1.4 = 1,000 kN
Live Load = 800/1.6 = 500 kN
Total service load = 1,500 kN
1- Area of base:
• Self-weight must be allowed for in advance of any consideration of the support of
the load. If soil is removed and replaced with concrete, then the self-weight of base
is the difference in density between soil and concrete. This is shown below.
Density of concrete = 2,400 kg/m3
Density of soil = 1,500 kg/m3
Net difference = 900 kg/m3 ; This is equivalent to 9 kN/m3
• Assuming that the base thickness is 650 mm;
• The net self-weight per unit area = 0.65 × 9 = 5.8 kN/m2, (say 6.0 kN/m2).
• The net allowable bearing pressure becomes:
= 150 – 6 = 144 kN/m2
• The area of base required for this load is; = 1,500/144 = 10.4 m2

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❑ Foundations
• If the base is made 3.25m × 3.25 m; Thus the total area provided = 10.6 m2.
2- Ground pressure:
• Referring to ultimate loads, the net ultimate pressure on the underside of the base is;
2,200 = 207.5 kN/m2
10.6
3- Punching shear:

c
lc

Fig. (7): Critical sections for design.

• The critical section for punching shear is shown in Figure (7). The remaining areas
a round punching shear area represent the load to be considered [The punching
shear force is the sum of the loads outside the periphery of the critical section].
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❑ Foundations
• The critical perimeter for punching shear is 1.5d around the column. For punching
shear to be under control, the nominal design shear stress () should not exceed the
allowable value.
The shear stress (v) is calculated using equation 28, of BS 8110 as follows:
N
v= …………………… Eq. (1)
ud
• Where; u = 4(3d + c) and the allowable design shear stress is given by equation 21,
BS 8110 as follows:
V ……………………. Eq. (2)
v=
bd

• If 1.5d exceeds the outer areas of the base, punching shear will not occur and hence
it need not be checked.
• For the given example, the value of d, is evaluated first. This is calculated as
follows:
• With a base thickness of 650 mm and allowing for two layers of reinforcement on
each direction (assume T20 is used), the average effective depth is;
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❑ Foundations
d = 650 – 40 – 20 = 590 mm
Then, the perimeter the punching shear is;
u = 4(3d + c) = 4(3×590 + 400) = 8,680 mm
• The nominal design shear stress is;

V 207.5  3.25  3.25  103

v= = = 1.14 N/mm²
bd 3,250  590
• Therefore, the nominal design shear does not exceed the allowable value; thus
punching shear value is under control.

4- Bending Check:
• According to Clause 3.11.2.2, of BS 8110, the critical section for moment is at the
column face. This is calculated as follows:
Given: Column size (400 × 400)mm , cover = 40 mm , h = 650 mm , d = 590 mm

wL2
M =
2
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❑ Foundations
l = 1.425m

Col. 3.25 m

Fig. (8): Critical sections for bending.

M =
207.5  (1.425) 2
kNm = 210.7 kNm
2
M 210.7  106 = 0.005 < 0.156
k= =
f cu bd 2 40  3250  (590) 2

  0.005  
Z = d 0.5 +  0.25 −  = 0.995d > 0.95d ; Use Z = 0.95d
  0 . 9  

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❑ Foundations

 Z = 0.95 × 590 = 560.5 mm

M 210.7  106
As = = = 939 mm²
0.87 f y Z 0.87  460  560.5

Asmin = 0.13  3250  650 = 2,746 mm2

mm 2
100
• Provide 6T25 (As = 2,946 mm2) for both directions.
5- Bar anchorage (Bond):
• Now check the requirement for anchorage bond lengths, which is given in Table
3.29, of BS 8110. This is shown as follows;
Anchorage bond length (extending beyond the face of column) = 34 × bar diameter
= 34 × 25 = 850 mm
Available space = 1425 mm – 400 mm = 1,385 mm > 850 mm
• Therefore; the anchorage length provided is satisfactory and the bar need not be
bent upwards.
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❑ Foundations
.
6- Bar distribution of reinforcement:
• It is good practice to concentrate more of the transverse reinforcement immediately
under the column than elsewhere because the outer limits of the base will be
principally concerned with longitudinal bending.
• In accordance with Clause 3.11.3.2, of BS 8110, it states that:
3c 9d
➢ Where;  c exceeds ( 4
+
4
), two thirds of the required reinforcement should be
concentrated within a zone from the centre line of the column to a distance 1.5d from the
face of the column; otherwise the reinforcement should be uniformly distributed over  c.

•  c ≡ is half the spacing between column centre and c is the column width.
Therefore; 3250
c = = 1.625m
2
3c 9d  3(400 )   9  = 1,627.5 mm say 1.60 m
+ = +
   590 
4 4  4  4 

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❑ Foundations

c 3c 9d
• Since exceeds ( + ), ⅔ of As will be banded in the centre and the
4 4
remaining will be uniformly distributed in the other region.

• Amount of reinforcement in the central band is; = ⅔× 2,746 mm² = 1,831 mm2

Then; Use (4T25). The remaining amount is 915 mm2 (This is 2T25).
CL 1.5d = 1.5 × 590 = 885mm CL

This is shown
in (b).

(a) Reinforcement Banding. (b) Reinforcement Banding.

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❑ Foundations
7- Transverse shear (Vertical shear):
• The next item to be checked is transverse shear and the shear stress to be considered
is related to that load in the critical section. The critical section is shown in Figure
(9) below, which is 1.5d from the column face.
1.5d
• The shaded areas show the load to be considered
for transverse shear.
• For this particular example;
1.5d = 1.5×590 = 885 mm
Remaining distance = 1,425 – 885 = 540 mm Col.

• Load causing transverse shear ;

= 207.5 × 0.54 × 3.25 = 364 kN
Fig. (9): Critical section for Transverse shear.
Thus; the shear stress (v):
V 364  103
v= = = 0.19 N/mm²
bd 3250  590
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❑ Foundations

• Check whether transverse shear is satisfactory if (v) does not exceed ( c).

• From Table (3.9): 1

0.33 0.25
0.79  100 As   400   f cu  3
c =      
1.25  bd   d   25 
1 1 1
0.79  100  2946   400   40 
3 4 3
=      
1.25  3250  590   590   25 
= (0.632)(0.5389)(0.8969)(1.1678) = 0.36 N/mm²

• Therefore; v is not greater than  c . Thus, Transverse shear is under controlled.

8- Maximum shear at Column face:

• The maximum shear must be checked around the column face. The critical
section is shown in Figure (10) below:

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❑ Foundations
• The maximum shear should not exceed the lesser of 0.8 f cu or 5N/mm2.
• The maximum shear (  max ) is calculated as follows:
N
max =
ud Col.

N = 1.4Gk + 1.6 Qk = 2,200 kN

2200  103
 max = = 2.33 N/mm2
1600  590 Fig. (10): The Critical section
at Column face.
Thus; 0.8 f cu = 0.8√40 = 5.06 N/mm2

 max < 0.8 f cu ; This is satisfactory. O.K

9- Check for cracks:
• This is done similar to the checking of slabs. With reference to Clause 3.12.11.2.7,
of BS 8110;
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❑ Foundations

• For; f y = 460 N / mm 2 , h = 650mm  200mm

100 As 100(2946)
But; = = 0.15 < 0.30
bd 3250  590

• The permissible clear distance of bars = 750 mm (because 3d > 750 mm).
• Actual clear distance between bars (6T25):
3250 - 2(40) - 6(25)
= = 604 mm < 750 mm
5
➢ Therefore, the solutions above are suitable to use. O.K

10- Column Starter Bar:

• The remaining reinforcement to be calculated is the requirement for the starter bars
and for this equation 39, of BS 8110 is used. From Table 3.27, the maximum
percentage of reinforcement required in the column is given by;

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❑ Foundations
0.4bh 0.4  400  400
Asc = = = 640 mm2
100 100
• Use 4T16 bars, One bar in each corner.
• The arrangement of reinforcement is shown below.

4T16

Fig. (11): Starter Bars

Arrangement.

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Summary

➢ The steps for the design of reinforced concrete isolated pad foundation are
summarized as follows;
• 1- Calculate the size of the base using allowable bearing pressure at serviceability
limit state.

• 2- Calculate the ground pressure at ultimate limit state.

• 3- Take a suitable value for the thickness of the base (h) and the effective depth (d).
Check and ensure that the shear stress around the peripheral of the column does not
exceed the lesser of 0.8√ fcu or 5 N/mm2.

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❑ Foundations

• 4- Check the base thickness for punching shear stress. The ultimate concrete
shear stress (vc ) is obtained from Table 3.9 of BS 8110.

• 5- Determine the reinforcement to resist bending moment.

• 6- When vc is determined accurately, do final check for punching shear.

• 7- Check shear stress at the critical section.

• 8- Determine the size and number of starter bars required.

➢ Questions ?????

➢ Problems ,,,,,,,,,,

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